The objective of this study by Rosalind Moore of the former Department of Conservation & Natural Resources completed in July 1994 was to determine the area, severity and location of salinity discharge in the Merino Tablelands and present it in map and database form.
Aerial photos were used for the location of saline sites and an extensive ground truthing program carried out using ISCON techniques for the classification of salt severity.
A total of 304 hectares were found to be salt affected. A large proportion of the sites were affected by a low level of salinity although some were moderately saline. The majority of the discharge sites appeared in drainage lines and were half a hectare in size. Small sites also occurred on hillsides, with larger areas appearing on river flats.
Most sites had not been treated. This highlights the need to increase the awareness of salinity in the area.
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